TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgarian and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our outdoor beach-front training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgaria and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our outdoor beach-front training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 81

Amanda - Bulgaria

Amanda is a US Peace Corps volunteer. She teaches English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria.

My name is Amanda Onken and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda Onken and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Onken", "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our TEFL Certificate course is held at the gorgeous Sunset Club in Zorritos. Sunset Club is a private club and hotel where you will study surrounded by palm trees and overlooking their stunning private beach. Our training site is located within metres of the ocean which provides a lovely breeze and a breathtaking view. The club has various swimming pools, bars, a restaurant, tennis courts, a soccer pitch and a playground.

Included in your TEFL course fee is lunch daily at Sunset Club for the duration of the course, as well as a private taxi twice daily from your accommodation to the club, as it is located approximately 15 minutes from the centre of Zorritos. You can also choose to stay at the club for the duration of course, which we offer in our Course Packages.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUARANTEED TEACHING POSITION IN CHINA FOR PARADISE TEFL GRADUATES:

• Round-trip airfare
•  
• Accommodations
•  
• Complete visa assistance
•  
• Support network in place to help you get settled
•  
• Competitive salary teaching oral English
•  
• Positions starting in February & August each year
•  
• Graduates must be at least 18 years old with no upper age limit
•  
• Bachelor Degree NOT required

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgaria and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 64

Amanda - Bulgaria

I've been experiencing so much more lately than just teaching. I've lived in Bulgaria for a year now and I'm really excepting it as home. My students are still my students but they're also like a bunch of crazy little brothers and sisters. My second term is going well. All the mistakes I made in my first term are not happening now. I am more prepared and I know my students better. It also helps that I'm getting a lot of support from fellow teachers; my Bulgarian still isn't great but I'm trying to communicate with them as much as possible.

The people here make all the difference. I was sitting in a cafe the other night and everyone was singing traditional Bulgarian songs to an accordion. Something that's quite unusual in the states but normal here. Six months ago I would have been embarrassed but now I just sing right along. Goat poop doesn't phase me anymore and I'm getting used to washing my clothes by hand. Of course you there are washing machines here, but I'm only a volunteer so I can't really afford one.

Spring is also coming and the weather is beautiful. I can go out running one day and by the end of it I usually have some students running behind me. I'm truly enjoying my kids. Although they can be a pain they really make my job here delightful and entertaining. I'm really starting to like this "Ms. Onken" thing. I'm even thinking of going back to grad school for teaching. I figure if I can handle some things I've dealt with I can handle a lot. I find that my students are teaching me about who I am without them knowing it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ah, Christmas is in the air. My kids feel it and so do I. In fact, as out of control some of my students get it's now ten times worse. They can taste vacation and it's making it really hard to teach lately. But, as I always tell myself, patience is the key...I think.

I started this month with trying to get tests and essays out of the way so the students have some grades in their book before the break. One day I had a test for my 9th graders in geography. Since this class is all in English I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and allow them to use their notes on my tests. "If you take good notes, you'll do well on the tests," I told them. Well, this apparently is harder than it seems to some. When I handed out the tests the kids were having a rough time. You see, I let them use their notes, BUT, I also expect them to pay attention to what I say in class and take notes on that too, and wouldn't you know it, they don't do that. While a girl named Anna was taking the test she looked extremely stressed, she obviously didn't take very good notes and didn't bother getting them from the other students. She raised her hand and said, "Miss, my cat died and I didn't have time to study," with this wonderful look of "will she believe this story?" in her eyes. I couldn't help but laugh because I knew she was lying, then she started to laugh too. I told her to relax and do the best she could. She ended up getting a decent grade but it just goes to show that some kids really like to go the distance to make an excuse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our TEFL Certificate course is held at the gorgeous Sunset Club in Zorritos. Sunset Club is a private club and hotel where you will study surrounded by palm trees and overlooking their stunning private beach. Our training site is located within metres of the ocean which provides a lovely breeze and a breathtaking view. The club has various swimming pools, bars, a restaurant, tennis courts, a soccer pitch and a playground.

Included in your TEFL course fee is lunch daily at Sunset Club for the duration of the course, as well as a private taxi twice daily from your accommodation to the club, as it is located approximately 15 minutes from the centre of Zorritos. You can also choose to stay at the club for the duration of course, which we offer in our Course Packages.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've learned while being a teacher for the first time ever that I really enjoy the little kids. When I'm taller than a student a feel a little bit more powerful and they have respect for me. It seems, at least in my school, that when they pass the 8th grade they join the let's-make-the-teacher's-life-hell club. I get extremely overwhelmed when 9th and 10th grade boys are towering over me grabbing for their papers and grades. The decibels in the older ones voices also tend to get louder. Because I can't spend all class telling them to be quiet I end up yelling through my whole class, this being extremely exhausting.

My 10th class is in the "A" group, which means they have taken and passed a language exam to get into the higher class. It seems to me that they kind of have a complex that they are the best students so they can do whatever they want. Unfortunately, I also teach them geography and being the new teacher who doesn't get paid, I get to teach them at night. My school has split schedules, younger kids in the morning and older ones at night. I walk into my class at 6.15 pm and leave at 7.30. The first 5 minutes of this class consist of a lot of hungry, crazy kids that just want to go home. In fact, the first thing they say is, "Miss, can we go home?!", within the first 30 seconds of class. I think in my head, "you don't think I want to go home too?" One night it was just too much. Kids begging, not listening, yelling, and knocking over desks. I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my bag and said, "you are horrible! if you want to go home so bad here's your chance, I'm going home!" and then I walked out the door with them pleading for me not to on the way. I felt terrible afterward but knew if I stayed in that room and would lose my head and start to cry. NEVER let your students see you cry. Anyway, the next day two representatives from their class came and apologized. I didn't do it to make them act better in my class but I assumed they would when I had class again that night. Would you believe they were they same little hellions?? Kind of makes me laugh to think about it. In conclusion, I stopped teaching geography for a while and just started talking to them about anything, this way instead of scientific terms in English to learn they can talk all they want as long as it's to me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUARANTEED TEACHING POSITION IN CHINA FOR PARADISE TEFL GRADUATES:

• Round-trip airfare
•  
• Accommodations
•  
• Complete visa assistance
•  
• Support network in place to help you get settled
•  
• Competitive salary teaching oral English
•  
• Positions starting in February & August each year
•  
• Graduates must be at least 18 years old with no upper age limit
•  
• Bachelor Degree NOT required

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, my first term has a month left and I'm proud of making it out alive. Today we had a lovely Christmas party and my kids read a Christmas poem and sang songs. It was a blast and I realize outside of the classroom, just seeing the kids in the hall and talking to them is extremely important. Casual conversation lets them know you are human too and not just the crazy woman trying to get them to shut up in the classroom. As much as I'll miss their wonderful little faces I'll be running to the airport on the 24th on my way to Prague!!! Happy Holidays!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos offers FREE Surf Classes as part of our TEFL Certificate Course with the renowned local surf school "Hands & Surf"!  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've decided to share the love, and the savings, with our new low season prices for accommodation, food & course packages!

TEFL COURSE + PRIVATE BEACH-SIDE BUNGALOW FROM ONLY US$1,460!

http://www.teflzorritos.com/about-the-institute/course-dates-and-fees/

Plus we have new accommodation options with something to suit everyone's taste & budget.

http://www.teflzorritos.com/location/accommodation/

Check it out! :)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgarian and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, free surfing lessons, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos offers FREE Surf Classes as part of our TEFL Certificate Course with the renowned local surf school "Hands & Surf"!  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've decided to share the love, and the savings, with our new low season prices for accommodation, food & course packages!

TEFL COURSE + PRIVATE BEACH-SIDE BUNGALOW FROM ONLY US$1,460!

http://www.teflzorritos.com/about-the-institute/course-dates-and-fees/

Plus we have new accommodation options with something to suit everyone's taste & budget.

http://www.teflzorritos.com/location/accommodation/

Check it out! :)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgarian and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, free surfing lessons, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos offers FREE Surf Classes as part of our TEFL Certificate Course with the renowned local surf school "Hands & Surf"!  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've decided to share the love, and the savings, with our new low season prices for accommodation, food & course packages!

TEFL COURSE + PRIVATE BEACH-SIDE BUNGALOW FROM ONLY US$1,460!

http://www.teflzorritos.com/about-the-institute/course-dates-and-fees/

Plus we have new accommodation options with something to suit everyone's taste & budget.

http://www.teflzorritos.com/location/accommodation/

Check it out! :)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgarian and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, free surfing lessons, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

TEFL Success Stories - Part 38

Amanda - Bulgaria

My name is Amanda and I am an interior designer in Chicago, Illinois. Wait!! Stop!! That was my old life, let me fast forward and shove you into my new life. My name is Amanda and I teach English as a foreign language in Teteven, Bulgaria. This is my assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Did they choose the right assignment? Well, I've been teaching for four weeks now and let's just say my interior design days are over and I am now known as "Ms. Amanda", or just plain, "teacher!!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study a TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos in Peru, South America and travel the world, live abroad and enrich people's lives by teaching them English. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate is an internationally accredited and accepted qualification to teach English to people from non-English speaking countries. More questions? Head to our What is TEFL? page

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I teach 5th -10th grade English. Since I'm new to the school and I'm a foreigner my responsibilities are very light. Most of my classes are "conversational", which really means, play with the American hour.

My 5th and 6th graders twirl in their chairs through class (who puts swivel chairs in a classroom?!) and like to ask me random questions through my lesson. "Ms. Amanda, do you have a pet?" "Ms. Amanda are you from Sweden?" What? How random, at least they're practicing asking questions.

My 7th and 8th graders don't speak at all. In fact, they look scared to death. I try to be lighthearted, I dance around, I smile. Nothing. It's like I am their warden and they are my prisoners.

I teach geography in English to my 9th and 10th graders. Did I mention I was an interior designer in my old life? Let's just say in these classes we are learning "together". The textbooks are horrible. Some of these explanations would stun Einstein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos offers FREE Surf Classes as part of our TEFL Certificate Course with the renowned local surf school "Hands & Surf"!  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues are great and very supportive. I only wish I could understand half of what they are saying. I've only been here 6 months, I am not yet fluent in Bulgarian. Mozhe li copy? No, I don't need the toilet. Thanks. The director is a wonderful woman and my goal is to have fluent conversations with her. Right now it's staggered Bulgarian between us and then she pinches my cheeks.

Did I also mention that I'm 25 and half of the students in the school look like they're 30? It's Bulgaria, they start smoking and drinking coffee by the time they're 13. My village is great. The people are very kind and hospitable. Although, it took me half of the summer to convince the townspeople that I was going to be a teacher at Georgi Benkovski and not a foreign exchange student. They laughed and said "da, razbira se" (yes, of course) in a sarcastic tone.

The Bulgarian school system is much different from the American system. Students are split in two, the young ones go during the day and the older ones at night. I come in around noon and don't leave until 7pm. My day is shot and I don't get a chance to eat lunch. There is also no discipline. After communism rules were rebelled against. I can't give my students detention, give them a bad grade, or kick them out of my classroom if they are misbehaving. I go on with my lesson usually shouting at the tops of my lungs and ignoring the obnoxious students. Occasionally I say, "shut up!", which they understand, and the comment back is usually some explicit words they learned in a rap song, which they don't understand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've decided to share the love, and the savings, with our new low season prices for accommodation, food & course packages!

TEFL COURSE + PRIVATE BEACH-SIDE BUNGALOW FROM ONLY US$1,460!

http://www.teflzorritos.com/about-the-institute/course-dates-and-fees/

Plus we have new accommodation options with something to suit everyone's taste & budget.

http://www.teflzorritos.com/location/accommodation/

Check it out! :)  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are days I want to give up. I'm across the world away from my family and friends. I don't understand what people are saying. But then I get my students stopping me on the road to talk, "Hi Miss, how are you?" The student who never reads in class talks to me and it puts a smile on her face when I say, "that was great." My 7th graders are ecstatic because I'm letting them each teach a lesson about topics they want to talk about. The 10th class is proud to help the local museum translate labels into English, and so on.

Good bye old life! I live in Bulgarian and I am... a teacher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town, free surfing lessons, great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 160 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 5 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And guaranteed job search assistance in whatever city/country you want to work, waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!